With now only two games to go, yesterday's action still left us none the wiser as to who will finish where this season. There were another six games but no lunch-time kick-off so again we had to wait for the clock to strike three for the action to begin.
With Manchester City facing Tottenham on Tuesday and Stoke in the FA Cup next weekend, they were hoping to secure that final Champions League spot with a win away to Everton. It looked very much on the cards when Yaya Toure put City ahead after 28 minutes. But Everton fought back in the second half and former City player Sylvan Distin equalised for Everton although Hart probably should have saved it after 65 minutes. Everton then stole the points seven minutes later when Osman placed a superb header over Hart into the bottom corner. City remain six points ahead of Tottenham but both have three to play, as they both meet on Tuesday. Everton move to four behind Liverpool in sixth who play on Monday.
With Wolves not playing until today, West Ham, Wigan and Blackpool had the chance to take advantage. Wigan were away to Aston Villa and the Latics took the lead after ten minutes through N'Zogbia. But Wigan had to settle for a point when Ashley Young equalised with a good free-kick just seven minutes later. Wigan remain in the bottom three by a solitary goal, Villa stay fourteenth on 43 six points ahead of the drop.
West Ham also secured a point but it was a very nervy affair at home to Blackburn. Rovers took the lead after twelve minutes with Roberts tapping home. West Ham fought hard and managed to find that equaliser twelve minutes from time with Hitzlsperger smashing it home. West Ham remain three points behind seventeenth, Blackburn remain three points ahead of the drop in fifteenth.
With a catalogue of injuries and no recognised strikers, it was hard to see how Sunderland would score let alone win. Well they took the lead at the Reebok just before half-time when Zenden managed to beat the offside trap before taking it round Jaaskelainen. Bolton though they had rescued a point three minutes from time when Klasnic scored but Muntari fired a cross-shot that pin balled off Jaaskelainen then Knight before rolling into the net in the depths of stoppage time. Bolton remain eighth while Sunderland climb to eleventh.
Birmingham are still pressingly close to the drop after defeat away to Newcastle. Birmingham were the creators of their own downfall as Ridgewell received a straight red for hand balling on the line nine minutes before half-time, Ameobi converted the following penalty. If it wasn't for the outstanding Foster, Newcastle would have romped it and they did find themselves two up two minutes before half-time with Steven Taylor scoring on his return and on his 150th appearance. Birmingham did pull a goal back just before half-time through Bowyer but it wasn't enough. Newcastle stay tenth but Birmingham are just three points from the drop.
The tea-time kick-off saw Blackpool travel to Spurs. After seeing both Wigan and West Ham earn a point Blackpool knew they needed to follow suit or even better it. The deadlock was broken after 76 minutes with huge controversy; a minute before, Blackpool were awarded a penalty when Dawson handled, Adam stepped up but Gomes saved it. The resulting corner came in which Gomes flapped at before then bringing down Taylor-Flecther for a second penalty. Adam again stepped up, despite arguments with Campbell, and this time the Scot fired it home. But Spurs equalised before injury time through Defoe to leave Blackpool with just a point. Spurs move to six behind City but Blackpool remain seventeenth by that single goal.
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